A You a Traveler or a Tourist? Written by Karina Ramirez
Why it’s ok to be both; being a good one is what matters. I used to think of myself as a traveler; someone searching where the locals hang out; goes beyond taking pictures of monuments and diving deeper into the city. (A little pretentious, I know.) The stereotypical tourist is considered obnoxious and sticks out from the local crowd. Selfie sticks, souvenir t-shirts, someone only coming to see the Eiffel tower and eat a croissant. But that’s not a fair assumption. In all my travels, I’ve realized I’m actually a little bit of both. I find local spots but then take pictures of everything. I stand out completely. But what’s wrong with that? I paid great money to be here! Sometimes I just want to see the attractions of specific places and stay at an expensive hotel. Sometimes I’m in the middle of a random city, staying in a hostel. (Thank you hostelworld) In Grenada, Spain, I joined a walking tour. With the guide carrying a little flag to lead the group, SUPER TOURISTY! In Krakow, Poland, I walked around by myself, exploring every alley and hidden bar. But there’s nothing wrong with either.
